"To overcome any obstacles in life, you must first have faith and get serious about whatever you choose to be great in."

Ross' story is an inspiration.

Former Florida State Seminoles Grady Ross, right, and William Floyd(Photo: Grady Ross photo)

Ross was a successful businessman in Palm Beach following his playing days. He managed established stores such as Home Depot, Tire Kingdom and Bed Bath & Beyond.

Family, friends and FSU were important components in his life.

However, an automobile accident in 2012 left him with a neck injury that required surgery.

The health-conscious Ross - who physically looks like he can still play football - said he got hooked on pain medication. He enjoyed a glass of wine socially, but the combo proved to be a teasing demon.

Ross opted for a stronger cocktail that included liquor. Ross said his downward spiral accelerated during his visit to Tallahassee for the 2015 spring football game.

"That weekend I went from liquor to anything I could get my hands on," Ross said.

Three months later, Ross saw his lifeless soul in the bottom of an empty liquor bottle. He made the telephone call to his mother to say goodbye. She immediately reached out to Ross' former teammates Reggie Johnson and Shelton Thompson and former Seminole and Phillip Scurderi.

Scurderi, a chiropractor and owner of Gardens Health and Wellness in Palm Beach, raced to Ross' home. He got Ross into his car and took him to his office until Johnson and Thompson made the four-hour drive from Tampa (Johnson picked up Thompson in Lakeland).

"It was a tough time; he had hit rock bottom,' Scurderi said.

"We helped him get help, but it was Grady who made the change. He was the one that took control of his life. He did it all on his own. We are extremely proud of him and he's a guy, honestly, I don't worry about."

Clothing items ready for shipment.(Photo: Grady Ross photo)

Ross returned to the gymnasium, finding strength and motivation from a saying - quit playing - he oft-repeated to himself and friends. One day, Ross posted his workout on social media and ended it with en emphatic "Quit Playing!" and added a hashtag to it.

"My phone just blew up, people loved it," Ross said.

Ross got the idea to print the saying on the front of T-shirts. He purchased 12 V-neck shirts for $172 dollars, posted one on Facebook and quickly sold the dozen. He purchased additional stock, spread the word across social media and sold the shirts out of his car.

There's no quit in Ross and #QuitPlaying.

He ships his apparel - from hats to hoodies to shirts to pants, for men and women - across the country

Ross also wears G27 on his shirt sleeves because, as he explained, it symbolizes his heart and the adversities he has faced in his life. The G stands for Gradar (you are Gradar than you circumstances). 27 represents the date of his sobriety, his mother's birthday and, most importantly, "the date that renewed lease on life began."

Ross understands who he is.

He understands how to grow.

He sets goals and chases them.

"Whatever it is that you choose to accomplish in life, always remain focused, faithful and quit playing," Ross said, with gusto.